Medical Benefits of Cannabidiol

Global streaming service Netflix has recently picked up a documentary mini-series about marijuana in Thailand. The name of the documentary series is Highland and it covers the efforts to legalize marijuana in the Southeast Asian country.

As legalization of hemp products begins to gain steam it’s always interesting to see how the global community is responding. The Coconuts TV-produced series covers a community of people working to undo the damage done by U.S. influenced legislation after the Vietnam War.

Uncle Sam and Thai Law

Today, legal repercussions for possession of marijuana or ‘ganja’ as it’s called in Southeast Asia are steep. This is because in the 60’s soldiers based in Vietnam on leave would stop in Thailand for R & R. The soldiers, often trying to destress from the trauma of war would smoke.

The recreational use of marijuana became so popular that soldiers were more likely to have smoked than not. As soldiers began returning home, enterprising individuals would start bringing back dried cannabis to sell in the states.

The U.S. was in the midst of a youth revolution at this time and the heads of state were on a mission to cut down this “hippy movement.” Their counteraction was too heavily penalize any and all drug use and issue harsh sentences to sellers and users.

In an effort to cut off imports at the source, U.S. government officials worked to influence Thai law resulting in the harsh restrictions you see today. As more information comes to light, this is changing, however.

Science and Empathy Prevail

As the laws loosen in the states and science begin to find medicinal uses for the plant, the international community is taking noticed. Some of what Highland highlights is the staggering rates of cancer in the country and that marijuana is an effective treatment for those effects.

Their efforts have apparently been met with praise and recognition as cannabidiol or CBD has recently been legalized in the country. CBD is one of at least 113 active cannabinoids in cannabis. It accounts for roughly 30-40% of the plant and is non-psychoactive.

What is Cannabidiol

Its status as a non-psychoactive compound means that it in no way impedes the user. This removes it from the ranks of its fellow cannabinoid THC. THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive compound in cannabis. THC is what get’s people ‘high’ and that high is what legislative bodies use to keep it as a schedule 1 substance.

CBD has occasionally been a subject of study in the past, but studies are rare as the plant was illegal. Recently, more documentation is coming out that makes it known the CBD is beneficial in a variety of ways.

The chief benefits of CBD include applications as a treatment for anxiety, epilepsy, inflammation, cancer and chronic pain. This means the general application can treat much of what is wrong with people and with no determent to their ability to function normally in society.

CBD and the Endocannabinoid System

CBD is able to benefit humans by interacting with their endogenous cannabinoid system or ECS. This system regulates a human’s general state of balance (with regard to health) or homeostasis. ECS impacts functions such as mood, appetite, hormone regulation, sleep, pain and immune response.

With everything that CBD oil is capable of it’s no wonder that individuals like the team at Highland are doing their best to get the word out. If you’re looking for more info on how CBD can positively affect your health check out the Free Your Spine website. The future is looking bright.